After some time away due to School I am back to relaunch Stars and Strikes just in time for the world cup. I am hoping to be able to bring back all of the old readers since we had some real good conversations going. Anyone who has requests or advice let me know and I will try and make this site as good as it was before if not better.

So http://www.televisadeportes.com is reporting that the ref for the US v Mexico game on Wednesday will be Joel Aguilar Chicas of El Salvadore who was last seen as the official for the Mexcio v Panama game where Javier Aguirre kicked the Panamanian player during the game. Sadly the only report I found was in Spanish but the article doesn’t reveal anything that isn’t obvious:

I can’t really decide if this if this helps or hurts the US… On the positive side he has probably doesn’t feel too highly of Mexico after what Aguirre did in the Gold Cup. Also he is from El Salvador who’s best chance to get into the WC is through the 4th spot, which they would get by passing Mexico. On the negative side he didn’t really control that game too well, although it would have been tough for anyone, so he might allow Mexico to play dirty and try and rough up the more skill based American team. Also because he is from El Salvador he might have the normal everywhere else in the Americas’ anti-USA bias…

Trinidad and Tobago have just added two English Premier League players to there team Bobby Zamora of Fulham and Jlloyd Samuel of Bolton. Both players have just received their passports and will be playing for T&T in their qualifier vs El Salvador reports Trinidad’s Newsday:

FULHAM striker Bobby Zamora received his Trinidad and Tobago passport on Wednesday and Bolton defender Jlloyd Samuel will receive his today, as they are poised to arrive along with the majority of the overseas players on Sunday in preparation for the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier against El Salvador next Wednesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

Zamora and Samuel could be very big additions to this T&T team that currently sits in last place in the World Cup qualifying. They probably still do not have a shot of making the WC next year but they can still have a big effect on the teams they play for the rest of qualifying. For those of you wondering, the U.S. national team travels to Trinidad & Tobago on Sept. 9, having beat them at home earlier this year 3-0 thanks to a Jozy Altidore Hat Trick.